Word Origin & History

witness O.E. witnes "attestation of fact, event, etc., from personal knowledge;" also "one who so testifies;" originally "knowledge, wit," formed from wit (n.) + -ness. The verb is c.1300, from the noun. Christian use (1382) is as a lit. translation of Gk. martys (see martyr). Witness stand is recorded from 1853.

Example Sentences for witness

She did not allow him to finish; she said hastily that she must witness the contest.

So that if anything happened to your witness, there would be no case for the Crown?

Below is the view expressed by The Templar, itself, and also repeated by the Witness.

Detectives were crowding round the witness, and had lifted him from the witness stand.

"I was witness that he offered man-eaters' for sale," said Imam Din.

No, but God knew, Nan, and our young souls were their own witness.

He turned from this to the witness, a somewhat raw, youthful policeman.

Mrs. Bethune, the first witness, was then examined by her counsel.

Counsel forgets, he declared, that this is his own witness whom he appears to be cross-examining.